Hoops Rumors Originals

Poll: Best NBA Head Coaching Hire Of Offseason

October 3rd, 2019 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

As our recap of the NBA’s 2019 coaching changes shows, six teams conducted searches for permanent head coaches this spring. One of those teams stuck with its interim coach, as the Timberwolves opted to give Ryan Saunders an extension. However, the other five brought in new coaches. Here are the five new head coaches who will be on the sidelines for the 2019/20 season:

Cleveland Cavaliers: John Beilein (former Michigan head coach)
Los Angeles Lakers: Frank Vogel (former Pacers/Magic head coach)
Memphis Grizzlies: Taylor Jenkins (former Bucks assistant)
Phoenix Suns: Monty Williams (former Sixers assistant / Pelicans head coach)
Sacramento Kings: Luke Walton (former Lakers head coach)

The Suns and Kings worked fast to fill the newly-opened spots on their respective benches. Sacramento zeroed in on Walton particularly quickly, reaching a deal to hire him just two days after firing Dave Joerger in April. Williams, meanwhile, was Phoenix’s top target and agreed to become the Suns’ new head coach even before his playoff run with the Sixers was complete.

Both Walton and Williams will take over young Western Conference rosters looking to take a step forward in 2019/20. Walton initially faced a similar task in Los Angeles when he presided over a young roster headlined by the likes of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Kyle Kuzma, before the Lakers acquired LeBron James and the job description changed. As for Williams, he appeared to be a top target for the Lakers, but chose to join the lowly Suns instead, signaling that he sees potential in the team’s young core of Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker, and Mikal Bridges.

After missing out on Williams and Tyronn Lue, the Lakers opted for Vogel, who has enjoyed success as a head coach in the past. While his stint in Orlando was forgettable, Vogel led the Pacers to consecutive appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014. The Lakers will be looking to make a similar run this season.

The rebuilding Cavaliers and Grizzlies took their time with their respective searches, and both choices were a little surprising. There was a belief that Cleveland would be targeting a young, up-and-coming assistant to oversee the team’s rebuild, and while John Beilein has a strong track record in player development, the 66-year-old doesn’t exactly fit the bill of a young up-and-comer.

Jenkins, meanwhile, enters the 2019/20 season as perhaps the most anonymous head coach in the league. An assistant in Atlanta and Milwaukee under Mike Budenholzer, Jenkins doesn’t have any head coaching experience at even the G League level, so the 35-year-old will be thrown in the deep end in Memphis this season. It will be fascinating to see how he responds.

With the regular season around the corner, we want your opinion on this year’s head coaching changes. Which of these five new head coaches do you think will have the most short- and long-term success with his team? Which hire did you like most? Are there any you particularly disliked?

Vote in our poll, then head below to the comment section to weigh in with your two cents!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Five NBA Roster Battles To Watch

October 3rd, 2019 at 1:09pm CST by Luke Adams

For certain NBA teams, the path to finalizing their regular season roster is obvious. The Mavericks, for instance, are currently carrying 15 players with guaranteed salaries and two on two-way contracts. Barring a major surprise in the next couple weeks, those 17 players will open the regular season under contract with the team, while the remaining three players on non-guaranteed camp deals may end up in the G League with the Texas Legends.

In other NBA cities though, the regular season roster isn’t quite so clear cut. A number of clubs haven’t filled their two-way contract slots and/or don’t have 15 players with guaranteed salaries, leaving the door open for camp invitees to compete for those final roster spots.

We don’t know exactly what all these teams are thinking — some may have already made their decisions, or at least could have a good idea which way they’re leaning. But here are five teams that appear to have roster spots up for grabs and are worth watching during training camp and the preseason:

Cleveland Cavaliers

Fully guaranteed salaries: 13
Two-way slots open: 1
It looks like at least two roster spots are up for grabs in Cleveland — one on the standard roster and one two-way slot. That number could increase to three if the Cavaliers decide to carry a 15th man to open the season, though their proximity to the tax line may discourage them from doing so. An intriguing mix of rookies and young veterans are in the running for those openings, and none have partial guarantees that would give them a leg up.
Contenders: Marques Bolden, Daniel Hamilton, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, J.P. Macura, Jarell Martin (ineligible for two-way), Sindarius Thornwell

Detroit Pistons

Fully guaranteed salaries: 14
Two-way slots open: 0
There’s only one spot available on the Pistons‘ roster, but the battle for it is an interesting one. In one corner is 17-year veteran Joe Johnson, who has appeared in nearly 1,400 total regular season and playoff games, and has a $220K partial guarantee. He’s going up against young forward Christian Wood, who just turned 24 and is already on his fifth NBA team. Wood flashed promise during his end-of-season stint with the Pelicans in the spring, averaging 16.9 PPG and 7.9 RPG in eight games (23.6 MPG), but beating out Johnson will be a tall order.
Contenders: Johnson, Wood

Orlando Magic

Fully guaranteed salaries: 13
Two-way slots open: 0
The Magic don’t have a ton of flexibility below the tax threshold, so they may not carry a 15th man to start the season, but they have to carry at least 14. The five non-guaranteed camp invitees that appear for now to be in the running for that 14th spot have appeared in a combined total of 12 regular season NBA games, so it will be interesting to see if Orlando looks to bring in a veteran or goes with a rookie.
Contenders: Hassani Gravett, Isaac Humphries, DaQuan Jeffries, B.J. Johnson, Vic Law

Toronto Raptors

Fully guaranteed salaries: 12
Two-way slots open: 2
Unlike last season, the Raptors don’t have any pressing luxury-tax concerns, so they could carry a full roster, which would leave five spots up for grabs in the preseason. Returning players Chris Boucher and Malcolm Miller each have partial guarantees and look like viable candidates for roster spots. But second-round pick Dewan Hernandez and free agent signees Cameron Payne and Isaiah Taylor also have partial guarantees and strong cases for a place on the 15-man squad. It will be interesting to see which way Toronto goes.
Contenders: Boucher (ineligible for two-way), Oshae Brissett, Dewan Hernandez (ineligible for two-way), Sagaba Konate, Miller (ineligible for two-way), Payne (ineligible for two-way), Devin Robinson, Taylor

Washington Wizards

Fully guaranteed salaries: 13
Two-way slots open: 1
The Wizards‘ injury woes may complicate their roster decisions and could make them more likely to carry 15 players on their standard roster instead of just 14. The partial guarantees for Jordan McRae, Justin Robinson, and Jemerrio Jones put them in the best position to claim those open roster spots. Meanwhile, only two of the team’s camp invitees are eligible for two-way deals, so that may be a one-on-one competition.
Contenders: Justin Anderson (ineligible for two-way), Phil Booth, Chris Chiozza, Jones (ineligible for two-way), McRae (ineligible for two-way), Robinson (ineligible for two-way)

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2019 Offseason In Review: Atlanta Hawks

October 2nd, 2019 at 4:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2019 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2019/20 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Atlanta Hawks.

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Jabari Parker: Two years, $13MM. Second-year player option. Signed using cap room.
- Vince Carter: One year, minimum salary. Re-signed using cap room.
Two-way contracts:
- Charlie Brown Jr.
- Brandon Goodwin
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Armoni Brooks: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).
- Marcus Derrickson: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).
- Tahjere McCall: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).
- Ray Spalding: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).

Trades:

Acquired the Heat’s 2024 second-round pick (protected 31-50 and 56-60) and cash ($1.88MM) from the Heat in exchange for the No. 44 pick in 2019 draft (used to select Bol Bol).
Acquired the Warriors’ 2024 second-round pick and cash ($1.3MM) from the Warriors in exchange for the No. 41 pick in 2019 draft (used to select Eric Paschall).
Acquired Evan Turner from the Trail Blazers in exchange for Kent Bazemore.
Acquired Allen Crabbe, the draft rights to Nickeil Alexander-Walker (No. 17 pick), and the Nets’ 2020 first-round pick (top-14 protected) from the Nets in exchange for Taurean Prince and the Hawks’ 2021 second-round pick.
Acquired Solomon Hill, the draft rights to De’Andre Hunter (No. 4 pick), the draft rights to Jordan Bone (No. 57 pick), and the Pelicans’ 2023 second-round pick (31-45 protected) from the Pelicans in exchange for the draft rights to Jaxson Hayes (No. 8 pick), the draft rights to Nickeil Alexander-Walker (No. 17 pick), the draft rights to Marcos Louzada Silva (No. 35 pick), and the Cavaliers’ 2020 first-round pick (top-10 protected).
- Note: The Cavaliers’ protected 2020 first-rounder will become two second-round picks (2021 and 2022) if it’s not conveyed in 2020.
Acquired the draft rights to Bruno Fernando (No. 34 pick) from the Sixers in exchange for the draft rights to Jordan Bone (No. 57 pick), the Hawks’ 2020 second-round pick (56-60 protected), and either the Hawks’, Hornets’, or Nets’ 2023 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable).
Acquired Chandler Parsons from the Grizzlies in exchange for Miles Plumlee and Solomon Hill.
Acquired Damian Jones and the Warriors’ 2026 second-round pick from the Warriors in exchange for Omari Spellman.

Draft picks:

1-4: De’Andre Hunter — Signed to rookie contract.
1-10: Cam Reddish — Signed to rookie contract.
2-34: Bruno Fernando — Signed to three-year, $4.7MM contract. Fully guaranteed. Signed using cap room.

Departing players:

Jaylen Adams (waived)
Justin Anderson
Kent Bazemore
Deyonta Davis (waived)
Dewayne Dedmon
Isaac Humphries
Miles Plumlee
Alex Poythress (two-way)
Taurean Prince
Omari Spellman

Other offseason news:

Extended GM Travis Schlenk, promoted him to president of basketball operations.
Relocated NBAGL affiliate from Erie; rebranded as College Park Skyhawks.
Chandler Parsons underwent Regenokine treatment on knees.
Allen Crabbe arrested on DUI charge.
Lost assistant GM Jeff Peterson to Nets.

Salary cap situation:

Used cap space; still under the cap (approximately $5.3MM in room).
Carrying approximately $103.8MM in guaranteed salary.
Full room exception ($4.77MM) still available.

Story of the summer:

Since Travis Schlenk arrived in Atlanta as the Hawks’ new head of basketball operations in 2017, the franchise has been in asset accumulation mode. That approach has meant adding young talent in the draft while primarily using the club’s available cap room to take on unwanted contracts and acquire even more draft picks.

Schlenk and the Hawks’ front office essentially continued down that path this summer. The team’s acquisition of Allen Crabbe was a classic salary-dump deal that netted extra first-round picks in both 2019 and 2020 — all Atlanta had to give up was a 2021 second-round pick, a player who apparently wasn’t in the team’s long-term plans (Taurean Prince), and 2019 cap room.

The Hawks were also quiet in free agency once again, waiting out the first wave of blockbuster deals and making only modest investments once the dust settled. It all points to a team that knows its rebuild is an ongoing process.

On the other hand, we saw this offseason that the Hawks are willing to start consolidating their assets for the right deal. The blockbuster trade they made with the Pelicans on draft night saw them absorb an unwanted contract (Solomon Hill‘s) and surrender the Nos. 8, 17, and 35 picks from this year’s draft. The target? De’Andre Hunter, whom Atlanta traded up to No. 4 to snag.

Hunter is just 21 years old and has yet to make his NBA debut, so he isn’t the sort of player who will turn Atlanta into a contender right away. But the deal foreshadowed the pivot that should be around the corner for the Hawks, who may not be in rebuilding mode for much longer. The next time Schlenk decides to consolidate his assets in a major trade, he may be targeting a veteran star who can help make the team a legit contender.

Key offseason losses:

The Hawks’ roster underwent some major turnover this summer, which can be attributed in large part to the eight trades the team completed. Kent Bazemore, Taurean Prince, and Omari Spellman were among the players traded away by Atlanta.

Bazemore, a veteran three-and-D wing, was entering a contract year and was coming off a down season. Prince, who played a similar role for the Hawks, had a strong season in 2018/19 but was also in the final year of his deal — having been drafted by the previous regime in Atlanta, he probably wouldn’t have received a lucrative second contract from the current group. As for Spellman, I was a little surprised to see the Hawks move on from the 2018 first-round pick after a rookie season in which the big man showed some outside shooting touch.

The Hawks’ most notable departing player may have been Dewayne Dedmon, who left via free agency rather than in a trade. The veteran center had been quietly effective during his two seasons in Atlanta, and established new career highs in a handful of categories in 2018/19, including PPG (10.8), 3PT% (.382), BPG (1.1), and SPG (1.1). His presence in the middle will be missed.

Key offseason additions:

Of all the newly-added players on the Hawks’ roster, Hunter is the one most likely to spend the next 10 years in Atlanta. Already this fall, Hawks coaches and Hunter’s new teammates have been heaping praise on the youngster, who won an NCAA championship in his final year at Virginia and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

With building blocks Trae Young, John Collins, and Kevin Huerter already in place, Hunter should fit nicely into the club’s long-term plan as a versatile combo forward who can knock down three-pointers and lock down opposing scorers.

Of course, Hunter wasn’t the only prospect the Hawks selected in the 2019 lottery — Cam Reddish, the 10th overall pick, also joins the mix. It was an up-and-down freshman year at Duke for Reddish, who is one of the NBA’s youngest and rawest players, but his upside is tantalizing, and the Hawks can afford to take it slow with him.

Atlanta also figures to things slow with rookie center Bruno Fernando, the team’s final draft pick of 2019, who may develop into a reliable backup at the five, but figures to slot in behind Alex Len and Damian Jones on the depth chart out of the gate.

Speaking of Jones, he was one of several veterans on expiring contracts brought in by Atlanta in the team’s various trades this summer. Besides Jones, the Hawks also acquired Chandler Parsons, Evan Turner, and Crabbe. All of them – with the possible exception of Parsons – should play, but it’s hard to picture any becoming long-term fixtures in Atlanta. Jones may have the best chance if he stays healthy and impresses. At age 24, he has been limited to just 49 total NBA games due to injuries.

Finally, the Hawks also signed Jabari Parker to a two-year, $13MM contract which features a second-year player option. It was a somewhat surprising move for a team that seemed to be prioritizing 2020 cap flexibility. It also represented the biggest salary commitment Schlenk has made to a veteran free agent since he arrived in 2017.

After Atlanta struggled on defense last season, head coach Lloyd Pierce has stated that he wants to see “consistency” on that end of the floor in 2019/20, and Parker has never been a particularly strong defender. The former No. 2 overall pick does possess the sort of play-making ability that could alleviate some pressure on Young on offense, but it will be interesting to see how he fits in on Atlanta’s young roster.

Outlook for 2019/20:

The Hawks took a small step forward in 2018/19 by bumping their win total from 24 to 29. I’d expect that number to creep slightly higher this season as Young, Collins, and Huerter improve, but I’d be surprised if Atlanta is ready to make the leap to playoff team quite yet.

Hunter and Reddish were the club’s most notable offseason additions, and while they represent promising long-term pieces, they’re unlikely to have a massive on-court impact as rookies. Meanwhile, none of the incoming veterans project to be more than role players on this year’s squad.

This is a team on the rise and it should be an exciting one to watch, but my guess is that the Hawks are still a year or two away from making serious noise in the East.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Rumors App For iOS/Android

October 2nd, 2019 at 3:32pm CST by Luke Adams

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Oldest, Youngest Players On NBA Rosters For 2019/20

October 2nd, 2019 at 10:59am CST by Luke Adams

Of the five oldest players on NBA rosters during the 2018/19 season, only one announced his retirement this year, as Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki decided to call it a career. Nowitzki was the second-oldest player in the NBA last season, but the rest of the league’s elder statesmen – including 42-year-old Vince Carter – have opted to keep playing in 2019/20.

As a result, many of the names on our list of the league’s oldest players for the 2019/20 season are the same as the ones that made our list a year ago.

Here’s the full list of the 10 oldest players currently on NBA rosters, led by Carter:

Vince Carter, Hawks (born 1/26/1977)
Udonis Haslem, Heat (born 6/9/1980)
Pau Gasol, Trail Blazers (born 7/6/1980)
Kyle Korver, Bucks (born 3/17/1981)
Joe Johnson, Pistons (born 6/29/1981)
Nene, Rockets (born 9/13/1982)
Tyson Chandler, Rockets (born 10/2/1982)
Andre Iguodala, Grizzlies (born 1/28/1984)
Thabo Sefolosha, Rockets (born 5/2/1984)
J.J. Redick, Pelicans (born 6/24/1984)

As expected, there’s much more turnover on the other end of the spectrum, as all 10 of the youngest players on NBA rosters just entered the league this year. In fact, all but one of those 10 players were selected in the 2019 draft, which doesn’t come as a real surprise.

A number of young undrafted free agents have gone right from college to an NBA roster within the last few months, but the youngest of this year’s rookies are the ones who left school after their freshman years — and many of those freshman early entrants were strong enough prospects to be drafted.

A year ago, the NBA’s youngest player was Isaac Bonga, who was born on November 8, 1999. This year, for the first time, the league’s youngest players are all born in the year 2000.

Here are the 10 youngest players currently on NBA rosters:

Sekou Doumbouya, Pistons (born 12/23/2000)
Talen Horton-Tucker, Lakers (born 11/25/2000)
Alen Smailagic, Warriors (born 8/18/2000)
Zion Williamson, Pelicans (born 7/5/2000)
RJ Barrett, Knicks (born 6/14/2000)
Jalen Lecque, Suns (born 6/13/2000)
Darius Bazley, Thunder (born 6/12/2000)
Jaxson Hayes, Pelicans (born 5/23/2000)
Kevin Porter, Cavaliers (born 5/4/2000)
Coby White, Bulls (born 2/16/2000)

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Five Notable NBA Veterans Not On Camp Rosters

October 1st, 2019 at 2:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Training camps have begun for teams around the NBA, and while there will still be some roster shakeups to come, particularly if injuries start to pile up, most clubs have a pretty good sense of what their 14- or 15-man rosters will look like for the start of the regular season.

For veteran free agents, that means there are far fewer viable landing spots than there were earlier in the offseason. Still, whether it happens before or after opening night, there are a number of unsigned players who seem like realistic candidates to eventually sign with an NBA team.

Here are five of the most notable veterans who are without an NBA home for training camps this week:

Carmelo Anthony, F: It has now been nearly a year since Anthony played in an NBA game — his last appearance with the Rockets took place on November 8, 2018. The 10-time All-Star has said he wants another shot and has insisted he’s comfortable playing a reduced role, but it’s not clear which team will be willing to take a chance on him. As of two weeks ago, several Nets players remained strongly in favor of adding Carmelo, but so far it doesn’t appear the front office is on board.
Iman Shumpert, G/F: Shumpert is still just 29 years old and played postseason minutes for Houston in the spring, so it’s somewhat surprising that he hasn’t been scooped up by a contender. He and the Rockets reportedly engaged in contract discussions for much of the offseason before Shumpert decided to pass on the team’s offer — at the time, I speculated it might have been an incentive-heavy deal similar to the one Nene signed.
Joakim Noah, C: After a disastrous stint in New York, Noah’s NBA career appeared to be on life support. However, a productive run as the Grizzlies‘ backup center last season (7.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 2.1 APG in 16.5 MPG) showed that the big man still has something left in the tank. He has reportedly generated some level of interest from both the Lakers and Clippers, though nothing has materialized yet.
Kenneth Faried, F/C: Like Noah, Faried was gradually seeing his minutes reduced further and further before he got his release and bounced back with a new team. In Faried’s case, he joined the Rockets after being cut by Brooklyn, averaging 12.9 PPG and 8.2 RPG in 25 games (24.4 MPG) down the stretch. He didn’t play much in the postseason and his three-point shot is still a work in progress, but it’s a little surprising that the 29-year-old remains on the market.
J.R. Smith, SG: Just three days after he was released by Cleveland and one day after he cleared waivers, Smith reportedly lined up a workout with the Bucks. That quick turnaround suggested it might not be long before the veteran sharpshooter found a new team. But Milwaukee opted to sign Kyle Korver instead, and there has been little chatter on Smith since then. He apparently turned down an offer from a Chinese team in August, signaling that he still wants to play in the NBA.

Here are a dozen more noteworthy veterans who remain unsigned:

Michael Beasley, F
Corey Brewer, G/F
Jose Calderon, PG
Jamal Crawford, G
Dante Cunningham, F
Luol Deng, F
Devin Harris, G
Amir Johnson, F/C
Luc Mbah a Moute, F
Jodie Meeks, SG
Salah Mejri, C
Jonathon Simmons, G/F

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.